Coinbase’s CEO Predicts a Major Rise in Cryptocurrency Users Over the Next Decade
Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, expects the number of cryptocurrency users worldwide to grow significantly in the coming years. Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Armstrong said he believes the number of crypto users could increase fivefold over the next decade, growing from the current user base to roughly one billion people.
Today, estimates place the global cryptocurrency user base at over 200 million. Armstrong expressed optimism that mass adoption could push that figure to one billion within ten years. He added:
“My guess is that in 10–20 years, we’ll see a substantial portion of GDP happening in the crypto economy.”
Coinbase is among the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, operating across multiple countries and listed on a major U.S. stock exchange. Armstrong highlighted several recent developments at the company, noting growth and strategic moves aimed at expanding Coinbase’s reach.
One recent initiative is Coinbase’s NFT platform, which Armstrong said already has more than 2.5 million people on its waitlist, even though the company has not announced an exact launch date. In addition, Coinbase is pursuing acquisitions to broaden its presence in key markets, including a near-complete deal to acquire Brazil’s 2TM and an agreement to purchase Turkey’s oldest crypto platform, BtcTurk.
The Milken Institute event also featured other influential voices in finance and crypto. Cathie Wood of Ark Invest discussed the potential of decentralized finance (DeFi). Wood highlighted how DeFi protocols offer financial services without relying on traditional banks and institutions, and she warned that conventional financial firms risk losing talent to the crypto sector if they do not take the shift seriously. As she put it:
“In the case of DeFi and next-generation internet, we are seeing a lot of financial companies losing talent to crypto. So they have to take it seriously, or else they are going to be hollowed out.”
Despite the optimism from industry leaders, the broader cryptocurrency market has struggled recently. Bitcoin, which reached an all-time high near $69,000 in November, has since declined by almost 50% and is trading around $38,000 per coin. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has also fallen, standing at about $1.7 trillion compared with a record high of roughly $3 trillion in November 2021.
While market volatility remains a concern for investors, Coinbase’s leadership and other proponents of cryptocurrencies point to continued innovation and strategic expansion as factors that could drive wider adoption and growth in the years ahead.